The Portland daily press., 1887-02-04
Especial to the PRESS }

Especial to the PREss.)
AUGUSTA, Feb. 3.
The first important debate of the session
took place in the House of Representatives
this forenoon, when the majority and minor
ity reports on the proposition to submit to
the people the question Of changing the date
of State elections from September to No
yember were brought up. Hon. John C.
Talbot moved that the minority report fav-
oring the submission, which had been signed
by himself and Senator Heath, be substi-
tuted for the majority report, which all the
rest of the Judiciary committee had signed.
On this motion the discussion took place,
and Mr.. Talbot took the floor. He argued in
the first place that the expense of two cleo
tions every four years was a greater expense
than necessary, since it took 10000 men
from their yocations one day more than nee
essary 1t touched the pockets of the peo-
pie In 1876, he remembered, a commission
of gentlemen appointed for the purpose
recommended to the legislature several
changes in the constitution. The changing
Of election day was one of these. And the
Senate and House, acting ON those recon-
mendations, passed by the necessary two
thirds vote the required resolution. But the
next day, the Senate reconsidered its action,
and voted the resolution down by majority
as large. There has not been legislature
since where the matter has not been brought
up. But the action Of no legislature would
have been final, for the decision would have
rested finally with the people.
In all national elections, where a Presl-
II.
has been the intention that the voting
should take place on the same day in all
States; but special exception in the cleo
tion of Congressman was made in this regu-
lati0n to accommodate those States having
State elections in other months than Novem-
ber. Twenty-eight States now hold their
State elections on the day of the national
election, and all should do so. Some urge
that the people want holiday, but there
are plenty of fairs and campmeetings for
holidays in September. An election IS no
holiday; it is work. Some say that the
weather is better for campaign in Septem-
Der, but what weather can surpass the In
dian summer. The argument that many
lumbermen are away in November, and
hence could not vote, Mr.. Talbot said was
met by the argument that the fishermen on
the other hand could with difficulty get
around in September. Then in September
we have many summer visitors with us; we
should not hurry into the turmoil of an cleo
tion until they have left us. Mr. Talbot
could remember when legislatures were held
in the summer, and it took three legislatures
for him to get the chance to have submitted
20 the people an amendment changing the
sessions to the winter But when the peo-
pie got chance to be heard they decided it
speedily
+. A. Powers of Houlton took the floor to
defend the majority report. making very
able argument in reply to Mr.. Talbot. He
said it was fair argument ON the face of it
to say that the Legislature by voting so and
so did not settle the question, which must go
to the people. 'But, gentlemen said he,
what are you going to submit to the people?
Are you going to submit those things which
float on the froth of public opinion? No!
You have a responsibility under the Consti-
tuition You are to submit only those things
which you think necessary and right. Some
things are to be submitted to the people, and
some are not" Mr.. Powers went on to say
that this question was one in which 14l,O00
voters were interested, and yet not petition
had come to the Legislature asking change.
The time of holding elections had been dis
cussed by the fathers of the constitution, and
they had settled on September Tor good
reasons. The people can get out better,
meetings can be held in the open air, and
much valuable political education can be
gained by listening to the best orators. In
November, he argued, the weather would be
too inclement for such meetings. The pres
ent arrangement had stood two-thirds of a
Century III WAS IOb u blll6 10 cIidDSc IL uOW,
To Mr.. P0wers's argument very able re-
ply was made by Mr.. Pattengall of Penn
broke. Maine. he said, by standing out
alone while all other States were changing
to November put herself in very peculiar
and unfortunate position. He believed that
the founders of the State were patriots. but
it was no argument to urge therefore that
their work could not be changed for it has
repeatedly been changed Circumstances
had changed since Maine was erected into.
T1-AA 4 aIkrx f,,
1S40, when the news of the elections
in Ohio and Indiana did not. reach
Maine for weeks. Now all Is changed.
Then the expense could not be ignored. Full
14i, 900 men are called out in September, and
in November they have to, be dragged out
again. The expense of this extra voting
was no doubt more than half a million dol
lars. September was no better a month
than October for a campaign. The beautiful
Indian summer was the best part of the year
for out OF door meetings; why should we
not changer" continued Mr. Pattengoll,"
have heard it said that certain great men
were opposed to it. But / undertake to say
that we, though humble, have right to our
opinions, sand any one who undertakes to
change that opinions will find that they can
not be moved. l have yet to hear the first
good argument against the change. They
| say the constitution fixes it; but the consti-
| tuition has been repeatedly changed. Now
| in this matter we should not be influenced
by any ring we should not be whipped into
| doing anything we do not believe.
| Major Dickey of Fort Kent arose as Mr..
| Pattengall sat down. He could remember
| longer than the gentleman OF Machlas, and
remembered when legislatures were changed
| from winter and summer. And when this
was done," said he, talbot and the other
| young fellows were so taken up out of doors,
| that that no business could be done. There
| were too many ladies to attend to and legis-
| latlye work went on badly" so they chang
| ed the sessions back to winter. Major Dickey
| remembered when young reporter sat near
| him; he saw that reporter later in the
| Speakers chair; and the young man never
| did better than when in the National Con-
| greSS he had passed the law to enable Maine
| to retain September elections. In Fort Ken
all the men would be goneIinto the woods
| November, so Dickey was bitterly opposed to
| the change.
Mr.. O'Brien of Thomaston said he favored
| the change, and after Mr.. Noble of Lewis.
ton had asked question, yea and nay vote
was taken ON the question of substituting
the minority for the majority report Thus
those who wanted to submit to the people
voted ''yes," and those opposed mo" This
IS the ballot, Democrats being in italics anC
Prohibitionists and Independents in small
capitals:
YEAs-Messrs Alexander, Aver, Benaett, Bill
ings, Bishop, Bowker, Boy1iton, Bradish, BrolCn
Burns, Chase Of Damariscotta, Chase o
rar, Foster, Greene. Greer, Hal, Hamilton O
Cumberland, Horrtgdlt, Jetoett Keegan, Kidder
| Kingsbury, Knapp, LeUelsdteF, Libby of Malta
wamkeag, Littlefeld OF Prospect, LYONS, Morrill,
| OBrien, Neatly, NewbeTt, Noble Pdrcher Pat
tangall, Pierce Poole, Purington OF Bowdoinham
Randall, Richards, Ross, Russell, Sanborn of Stan
dish, Seaman, Scott, Small, SYLVESTER, TAI
Bot Watts, Wedgea0ood, Weymouth, Widber, Wi0
| ain, UaHie. Wilson, WithdDl-59.
| NAYs-Messrs Adams, Alden, Allen, Barker
| Beal Bradley, Bryant, Carleton, Clark of Bangor
Clark of Caribou, Clark OF Saco, Cook, Cushing
| Cults Dawson, Dtckey Dorty, Dow, Eels Gab9
Engel, Ferguson, Field Floyd, Fogg, Friend Gil
ford. Glover, Grindle, Hamilton of Gouldsboro
| Harding of Durham, Hunter. Jones, Jordan Jud
kins. Harding of Gorham, Harper, Harrington
Hawkes., Hayden. Head, Hersey, Hobson, Hodg
Marsfon, Mason, Moore of Deering, Moore of Gai
diner, Packard, Palmer Powers, Pray, Puringtol
of Bowdoin, Ray, Reynolds Kicker, Roberts 0
| brunswick Roberts of Dexter Ryder, SanbOrn d